I have a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Albany, I used to walk into a room full of company executives and business owners and they would listen to what I had to say. I’ve driven on private race tracks, and had Rangers suite tickets. I used to feel like a Somebody. You know those women in suits (not yoga pants), who wear make-up everyday (instead of just tinted moisturizer) and carry designer bags (not diaper bags), I was part of the club.
Nowadays those people rush by me in a panic to avoid being stuck behind the woman with the two kids. I take too much time to get out of people’s way cause honestly getting a stroller through anything but an automatic sliding door takes feats of strength, only a desperate Mom possesses. Besides my four year old doesn’t exactly speed walk so even on a day without the baby we are slow.
I was having this type of pity party for myself last night as I was folding up some hand me downs and my four year old kept trying to hop around the piles, succeeding in knocking down at least one piece of clothing each time. When she asked if she could help I told her NO and she walked away dejectedly to her room. Not my finest moment in parenting but shit happens and it brought me to this realization when I went into her room.
While I may feel like the world looks at me as Nobody, I am Everybody to my girls. Everyday I am their chef, teacher, private driver, nurse, and now that my daughter is learning about money I have even become her accountant. I also get to be the prince, the queen, and the wicked witch most days too (as Prickle Pants from Toy Story would say “We do a lot of improv here”). Most importantly though I am their love, comfort and stability in this world. It’s my job to help them become the best somebodies they can be, and that can’t be done by anyone but me.
-Jenn, Putnam Editor
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